CNMI gets help in campaign against the Big C

A representative of the American Cancer Society in Hawaii and Pacific is helping the CNMI come up with programs that will promote early detection and prevention of the highly dreaded disease.

Eleanor Waterhouse, vice president of unit services and fund raising of the organization’s Hawaii Pacific Division, said raising awareness on cancer is the best way to prevent spread of the disease.

Cancer, which a few years ago had lower statistics, has become a leading cause of death among the indigenous population — a fact blamed by public health officials on westernized lifestyle adopted by islanders over the years.

Lung, cervical, liver, colon, stomach and breast cancers, were the five leading forms of cancer that affected the indigenous people, according to latest government statistics. In 1996, 21 people, 16 of which were Chamorros and Carolinians, died of cancer which made it the number one cause of death here.

According to Ms. Waterhouse, early detection programs utilizing volunteer health care providers to conduct mammogram, prostate cancer test, among other things, have helped reduce cancer incidence all over the U.S.

The local chapter of the American Cancer Society is set to hold a fundraising event in July, called the Relay for Life, as part of the efforts to raise awareness in the community. Last year, close to $70,000 were raised in its first ever activity.

“This group has been most effective in raising money for research and to assist cancer patients,” Ms. Waterhouse told reporters yesterday. “One of things I’m here to help them do is to get them into other areas so that they can be more effective in promoting early detection and prevention.”

Funds raised locally will be split between the regional group and the national organization, the latter receiving 40 percent of the money that will be used to finance cancer research across the nation.

The other 60 percent will go directly to the Hawaii Pacific Division, from where the CNMI can draw funds for its activities here.

“There is high incidence of cancer here and as long as there is need, they can draw what they need from the pot,” said Ms. Waterhouse, who is on Saipan for a three-day visit.

The official yesterday joined other local organizers of the fundraising event when Clarence Tenorio, president of the JC Tenorio, Inc. , donated $3,000 on behalf of the company to kick off the campaign.

Relay for Life President Alex Sablan, acting Gov. Jesus R. Sablan and other members of the organizing committee were on hand to witness the event.

Committee member Carmen Gaskins said they hope to surpass the amount of money they raised last year as she credited the national chapter for assisting the CNMI long before a local chapter was established.

In the next few months, they will submit their report to the regional division so that they can be eligible to receive funding from the society, the nation’s largest privately-funded organization for cancer research.

Ms. Waterhouse said research dollars can be funneled into the current problem facing the Commonwealth as a result of the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in Tanapag and other areas on Saipan.

“We are doing community assessment all over the country to find out what kinds of cancer problems they have… Money can be spent to assess the need,” she explained.

“If the CNMI comes to document the need, then they draw what they need from the pot,” she added.